How to Spend 2 Days in Charlotte, NC for First-Timers
Ready for a fun weekend in the Queen City? I’ve put together this super simple itinerary for spending 2 days in Charlotte, North Carolina.
There’s a lot you can accomplish with just two days in Charlotte. And for a first visit, it’s plenty of time to get a taste of the city that’ll leave you wanting more! From its bustling downtown to its vibrant arts scene, there’s a lot to do in Charlotte.
Kevin surprised me with a visit to Charlotte to see Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal, and it was both of our first times in Charlotte. We loved the the eclectic mix of history, culture, and modernity that the city has to offer, and I hope this weekend itinerary helps you discover how much you love Charlotte too!
2 Days in Charlotte Itinerary
Day 1 in Charlotte
We drove to Charlotte because it’s only about a 4 hour drive from Atlanta. If you’re flying in, you’ll fly into the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
We arrived in the early afternoon, so we had some time to check out some quintessentially Charlotte activities on our first day.
Check-in to the Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Uptown
Our first order of business was checking into our hotel. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Uptown, which is right across the street from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. If you get the right room, you’ll get amazing skyline views. It’s easily walk-able to everything in Uptown Charlotte; we walked to everywhere I mentioned in this post.
It’s also connected to the Hampton Inn Charlotte Uptown if you want to be on the other side of the parking deck.
Explore Uptown Charlotte
Uptown Charlotte is really what you would consider the downtown area. After following the signs for Uptown Charlotte, Kevin and I were left wondering if there were a downtown to match, or even a midtown. But it seems that “Uptown” has been used to refer to this central business district the majority of the time.
So all of what we’ll be doing in this itinerary is part of Uptown Charlotte.
Visit The Green
The Green is a literary-themed park near the intersection of W 1st Street and S Tryon Street.
There are statues of famous books stacked precariously atop one another and signs pointing you to the nearest cities that share famous author’s names. You can also find out how far away a bunch of other Charlottes are.
Stroll along Liberty Walk
Liberty Walk is a trail of Revolutionary War history in Charlotte made up of plaques and signs on Tryon Street, Trade Street, Church Street, Fifth Street, and College Street.
Because most of our activities took us up and down Tryon Street, we were able to see a lot of the Liberty Walk. Keep your eyes peeled for history when you’re in this area.
See the Four Corners Statues at Independence Square
The intersection of Tryon and Trade Streets is the heart of Uptown Charlotte.
Four huge statues stand on each corner, representing Charlotte’s past, presence, and future: Commerce, Industry, Transportation, and The Future.
See Il Grande Disco
On the south corner of Independence Square at the Bank of America Plaza is another famous statue: Il Grande Disco.
Arnaldo Pomodoro created the sculpture in 1974 to commemorate Mecklenburg County’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. The disc depicts a city emerging from the center.
Visit Buddy Bear and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
I’m all for anything bear-related! Buddy Bears are life-sized bear sculptures started by Berlin artists to promote peace, international understanding, and tolerance around the world, and Charlotte has its own Buddy Bear outside the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.
Charlotte’s Buddy Bear was designed by artist Sharon Dowell and depicts Queen Charlotte, paintings of the birds-of-paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae, named for the German region Queen Charlotte was born in), and binary code representing Charlotte’s advancement in technology.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is also an interesting find. The outside columns are decorated with quotes about reading and libraries by famous authors.
Attend Science on the Rocks at Discovery Place Science
We were pretty lucky that we came to Charlotte on the third Friday of the month because that’s when Discovery Place Science has its adult-only Science on the Rocks events after 6 p.m.
This allowed us to explore the science museum’s interactive exhibits and special LEGO exhibit when the museum normally would have been closed, and we got a lot of space-themed fun!
If you’re visiting on the third Friday of the month, be sure to build this into your itinerary!
Dinner at Rí Rá Irish Pub
Rí Rá Irish Pub is a little piece of Ireland here in Charlotte. They’ve even restored and shipped a 19th century Victorian bar from Dublin over to be used here!
This is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and a pint of Guinness after a long day of exploring.
I recommend the Steakhouse Paddy Melt, a classic Fish and Chips, or the Beef & Guinness Stew.
See the Queen Charlotte Statue
Getting a picture with the bronze statue of Queen Charlotte and her two dogs is a definite must!
The statue is located in front of the Wake Forest University Charlotte Center.
Day 2 in Charlotte
On our second day in Charlotte, we were going to see a Cirque du Soleil show that night, so everything had to be planned around that. But that still left us with plenty of time to explore during the day!
Play with the Musical Parking Garage
Yep, you read that right — I’m suggesting you go to a parking garage. This parking garage at 231 E 7th Street is part of the Touch My Building art installation by sound artist and architect Christopher Janney. When you place your hand on any of the sensors beneath the light fins, the fins will light up and play a note or two.
There’s even a hidden plaque that tells you how to get the whole building to light up and play a song — if you can decipher the riddle and play the notes in the right order (and if you can do this without a random person touching a sensor and messing up your hard work). The plaque is hidden low to the ground by one of the sensors on the train-side of the building.
Lunch at Mert’s Heart And Soul
For lunch, head to Mert’s Heart And Soul, a husband-and-wife-run Southern soul food spot with Lowcountry dishes that was featured on Diners Drive-Ins & Dives.
Get the Barbecue Beef Ribs or the Fried Chicken Tenders.
Visit the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art has a collection of mid-century modern art from artists like Picasso and Degas.
Be sure to check out their rotating exhibits that feature everything from tapestry art to surrealism to a focus on a single artist’s work.
See the Firebird Statue
If you don’t want to venture into the Bechtler Museum, you can at least check out the “Disco Chicken” that stands out front. The 17-foot Firebird sculpture was created in 1991 by Niki de Saint Phalle and is covered with pieces of mirrored and colored glass.
It has stood in front of the Bechtler Museum since 2009. It’s actually a bird standing on top of an arch and not, as you might think at first glance, a bird with giant legs. But it still does look pretty chicken-y.
Dinner at Que Onda Tacos + Tequila
Que Onda Tacos + Tequila is a top Mexican restaurant in Charlotte for street tacos, tequila, and Mexican beer.
I recommend getting the Combo Tacos so you can mix and match three different tacos. Try the Birria, coca Cola Carnitas, Arrachera, Crispy Baja Fish, or Crunchy Shrimp tacos.
See a show or game at the Spectrum Center
The Spectrum Center is the home of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and is also a great place to see concerts and ice shows like Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal.
It’s worth checking out what’s going on at the Spectrum Center during your visit!
Visit the City Lights Rooftop Bar
City Lights Rooftop Bar has one of the best skyline views in Charlotte. Located at Le Meridien Charlotte hotel, City Lights Rooftop has 360-degree views and is the largest rooftop bar in Charlotte.
They have inventive signature cocktails that change to fit the season, so you’re always in for a new surprise.
2 Days in Charlotte Map
Ready to spend the perfect weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina? Use the map below to find all the places listed in this itinerary.
I hope you have a fantastic 2 days in Charlotte!
Where to Stay in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Where We Stayed: Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Uptown
- Top Hotel: The Ivey’s Hotel
- Great Value: Hampton Inn Charlotte Uptown
- Unique Stay: Luxury Home near Uptown
More North Carolina Itineraries
Find more fun things to do on your North Carolina vacation with these helpful itineraries.
- A Weekend in Hickory, NC for History Lovers
- 4 Days in Asheville Itinerary: Asheville, NC Guide
- 4 Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic Spots near Asheville, NC
- One Day at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
- North Carolina Hikes: Mount Mitchell Summit Trail
- North Carolina Hikes: Craggy Pinnacle Trail
- Discovery Place Science on the Rocks Review
Ready to visit Charlotte, North Carolina? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Charlotte using Hotels.com.
- Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
- Explore Charlotte in a New Way: Enjoy a Mystery Picnic in Charlotte to discover more of the city.
Cheers!
Paige
Did you find this 2 days in Charlotte itinerary helpful? Let me know in the comments!
